EP0688466B1 - Disjoncteur a double mecanisme de rupture - Google Patents

Disjoncteur a double mecanisme de rupture Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0688466B1
EP0688466B1 EP95907465A EP95907465A EP0688466B1 EP 0688466 B1 EP0688466 B1 EP 0688466B1 EP 95907465 A EP95907465 A EP 95907465A EP 95907465 A EP95907465 A EP 95907465A EP 0688466 B1 EP0688466 B1 EP 0688466B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
circuit breaker
contact assemblies
pair
contact
current
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP95907465A
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German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0688466A1 (fr
Inventor
Jerry L. Scheel
Dale W. Bennett
Randall L. Siebels
Matthew D. Sortland
John M. Winter
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Schneider Electric USA Inc
Original Assignee
Square D Co
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Publication date
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Publication of EP0688466A1 publication Critical patent/EP0688466A1/fr
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Publication of EP0688466B1 publication Critical patent/EP0688466B1/fr
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H71/00—Details of the protective switches or relays covered by groups H01H73/00 - H01H83/00
    • H01H71/10—Operating or release mechanisms
    • H01H71/12—Automatic release mechanisms with or without manual release
    • H01H71/24—Electromagnetic mechanisms
    • H01H71/2418—Electromagnetic mechanisms combined with an electrodynamic current limiting mechanism
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H71/00—Details of the protective switches or relays covered by groups H01H73/00 - H01H83/00
    • H01H71/10—Operating or release mechanisms
    • H01H71/12—Automatic release mechanisms with or without manual release
    • H01H71/128—Manual release or trip mechanisms, e.g. for test purposes

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to circuit breakers and, more particularly, to circuit breakers having multiple sets of contacts for interrupting a single current path through the circuit breaker.
  • circuit breakers Use of circuit breakers is widespread in modern-day residential, commercial and industrial electric systems, and they constitute an indispensable component of such systems toward providing protection against over-current conditions.
  • Various circuit breaker mechanisms have evolved and have been perfected over time on the basis of application-specific factors such as current capacity, response time, and the type of reset (manual or remote) function desired of the breaker.
  • thermo-magnetic tripping device to "trip" a latch in response to a specific range of over-current conditions.
  • the tripping action is caused by a significant deflection in a bi-metal or thermostat-metal element which responds to changes in temperature due to resistance heating caused by flow of the circuit's electric current through the element.
  • the thermostat metal element is typically in the form of a blade and operates in conjunction with a latch so that blade deflection releases the latch after a time delay corresponding to a predetermined over-current threshold in order to "break" the current circuit associated therewith.
  • Circuit breaker mechanisms of this type often include an electro-magnet operating upon a lever to release the breaker latch in the presence of a short circuit or very high current condition.
  • a handle or push button mechanism is also provided for opening up the electric contacts to the requisite separation width and sufficiently fast to realize adequate current interruption.
  • Double-break circuit breaker includes two sets of current-breaking contacts to accommodate a higher level of over-current conditions than is accommodated by the one discussed above.
  • One such double-break circuit breaker implements its two sets of contacts using the respective ends of an elongated rotatable blade as movable contacts which meet non-movable contacts disposed adjacent the movable contacts.
  • the non-movable contacts are located on the ends of respective U-shaped stationary terminals, so that an electro-magnetic blow-off force ensues when the current, exceeding the threshold level, passes through the U-shaped terminals.
  • the blow-off force causes the elongated rotatable blade to rotate and the two sets of contacts to separate simultaneously.
  • Another type of double-break circuit breaker implements its two sets of contacts using separate and independent structures.
  • one set of contacts may be implemented using the previously-discussed thermo-magnetic tripping device to trip the current path at low-level current conditions, and the other set of contacts using an intricate and current-sensitive arrangement which separates its contacts in response to high-level blow-off current conditions. See, for example, U.S. Patent Nos. 3,944,953, 3,96,346, 3,943,316 and 3,943,472, each of which is assigned to the instant assignee.
  • Double-break circuit breakers also have power-loss disadvantages that are not found in the first-described (single-break) circuit breaker. These double-break circuit breakers typically develop contact resistances which create higher power losses. The power losses fluctuate from one operation to the next, thereby making the double-break circuit breaker unreliable and burdensome to maintain.
  • EP-A-0490332 to Hitachi discloses a circuit breaker according to the preamble of claim 1 comprising a power source side contact unit which includes a group of component parts containing a power source side contact and a movable contact unit.
  • the movable unit contains several component parts including a load side contact.
  • the power source side contact unit and the movable contact unit can be detachably connected to each other by attaching the casing of the movable contact unit to the mount of the power source side contact units.
  • the power source side contact unit includes a fixed contact and a current limiting contact which separates from the fixed contact by magnetic repulsion.
  • US-A-4945326 to Kandatsu discloses a circuit breaker contained within a casing which encloses two breaking portions wherein each portion has movable contacts. These movable contacts are connected in series and are supported by a common switching shaft. Both breaking portions can be tripped by a switching means in response to an overcurrent condition or manual operation, whereupon both sets of contacts are maintained in the open state.
  • the present invention aims to provide a circuit breaker having a double-break current-path interrupting mechanism which overcomes one or more of the above-mentioned deficiencies of the prior art.
  • the embodiments described further provides a circuit breaker having a double-break current-path interrupting mechanism operating with lower peak currents, lower I 2 t energy, and high interruption ratings in a relatively small package.
  • the present invention provides a circuit breaker for passing current during a normal condition and, in response to an abnormal condition, interrupting the current, which comprises a first section and a second section.
  • the first section has a first pair of contact assemblies wherein at least one of the contact assemblies may be constructed and arranged to interrupt the current by moving from a normally closed position to a blown-open position, and latching with the contact assemblies separated.
  • the second section has a bias mechanism and a second pair of contact assemblies, provided in series with the first pair of contact assemblies, at least one of the contact assemblies of the second pair of contact assemblies may be constructed and arranged to interrupt the current by momentarily moving from a normally closed position in response to said abnormal condition in which an overload current results in electromagnetic forces simultaneously acting on said first and second pair of contact assemblies.
  • the second pair of the contact assemblies then returns to the normally closed position in response to a biasing force entered by the bias mechanism, said first and second pairs of contact assemblies separating substantially simultaneously in response to said electromagnetic forces resulting from said overload current flowing between said first and second pair of contact assemblies.
  • the first and second pairs of contact assemblies along with the bias mechanism are retained within an enclosure via internal retainment sections.
  • the circuit breaker enables current to pass without any arc-energy absorption elements being electrically connected to either of the contact assemblies of the second pair.
  • a bias mechanism exerts a bias force in a direction to maintain the second pair of contact assemblies in position for passing current.
  • the circuit breaker has a conductive stationary terminal having a first end and a second end, one of the first pair of contact assemblies includes a contact connected to the conductive mid-terminal near its first end, and the other of the first pair of contact assemblies includes a moveable contact.
  • One of the second pair of contact assemblies includes a contact connected to the conductive terminal near its second end, and the other of the second pair of contact assemblies includes a moveable contact which can be moved from a normally closed position to an open position and, the first and second sections are, at least in part, separated.
  • a one-piece tripping actuator for securing the line or load terminal
  • a screw retainer assembly for securing the line or load terminal
  • a bimetal arrangement involving an improved calibration process and an associated stress-reducing line terminal.
  • FIG. 1 While the present invention may be used in a wide variety of residential, commercial and industrial applications, the implementation of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is ideally suited for applications requiring high performance, low cost, and design simplicity in a small package.
  • the circuit breaker of FIG. 1 includes an enclosure (including base 10 and cover 11) having numerous component compartments (in the form of molded protrusions) to retain the internal components of the circuit breaker, the majority of which reside in a primary section 12 or in a secondary section 14. While there is no definitive line of distinction between the primary and secondary sections, a conductive mid terminal 15 may be used to delineate generally the components in the primary section 12 (to the right of the mid terminal 15) and the components in the secondary section 14 (to the left of the mid terminal 15).
  • the current path through the circuit breaker is best viewed by referring to FIG. 2, which shows the circuit breaker of FIG. 1 with certain components removed for illustrative purposes.
  • the current path begins within the secondary section 14 at a line terminal 16.
  • the line terminal 16 includes a conventional line block (or lug) 17 for clamping the line wire within an aperture (not shown) therein.
  • a flexible conductor (or pigtail) 18 connects the current path to a rotatable secondary blade 20 which, along with a secondary blade contact 22 and a mating stationary contact 24, are used to establish a pair of contact assemblies for the secondary section 14.
  • a pair of contact assemblies for the primary section 12 including a stationary contact 28 and a mating rotatable primary blade contact 30.
  • the stationary contact 28 is attached to the lower portion of the mid terminal 15, near its lower end.
  • the mating contact 30 is attached to a primary blade 32, which rotates about a blade pivot 33 in response to a trip mechanism.
  • a primary flexible connector or pigtail
  • the other end of the primary flexible connector 34 is attached to a bimetal member 36, which provides the thermal tripping characteristics for the circuit breaker.
  • the current flows from the bimetal member 36 through a load terminal 38 and out of the load end of the circuit breaker via a terminal block (or lug 40).
  • the mid terminal 15 is "S"-shaped and arranged with respect to the secondary and primary blades 20 and 32 to form a "U"-shape conductive path for each pair of contact assemblies. Such a "U"-shape construction is used to form a sufficiently strong electromagnetic blow-off force to separate each pair of contacts in response to an over-current condition of sufficient magnitude.
  • the primary section of the circuit breaker also includes a trip lever 42, a handle 44, a magnetic armature 46, a primary arc stack and a yoke 50. These components are used to implement the manual ON/OFF operation, the thermal-trip separation, and the electro-magnetic trip separation of the primary contacts 28 and 30.
  • the manual ON and OFF operation of the primary blade 32 occurs in response to the manual rotation of the handle 44 in a clockwise or counterclockwise motion.
  • the primary blade 32 In response to rotation of the handle 44 in either direction, the primary blade 32 either opens or closes the circuit via the primary moveable contact 30 and the primary stationary contact 28.
  • Rotation of the primary blade 32 is coupled directly to the handle 44 at interface points (or pivots) 56a and 56b (FIGS. 1 and 4a, 4b) for the normal ON and OFF operation of the primary blade 32.
  • the secondary section is not affected by the normal ON and OFF operation of the primary blade 32, and the secondary blade contact 22 and the secondary stationary contact 24 remain in the closed position.
  • the thermal-trip separation of the primary contacts 28 and 30 provides current-interruption capacity for all current-overload levels from zero amperes to approximately 3000 amperes without operational assistance from the secondary section; that is to say, without requiring the secondary section to interrupt with the primary section.
  • the primary section is ready to be tripped when the handle 44 is manually rotated first to the right for latching the trip lever 42 by the magnetic armature 46 and then to the left to turn the circuit breaker "on" (closing the current path).
  • the primary contacts 28 and 30 can also be tripped manually, e.g., for testing purposes, by depressing (via an aperture in the top of the enclosure) the top of a plastic one-piece depressible member 51 (FIG. 1).
  • the depressible member 51 includes flexible arms 52a and 52b and an engagement leg 53.
  • the flexible arms 52a and 52b reside in triangularly-shaped compartments 35a and 35b (FIG. 2) and, via the walls of these compartments 35a and 35b, provide resiliency to return the member 51 to its normal position after being depressed.
  • the engagement leg 53 is of sufficient length so that, in response to the depressible member 51 being depressed, the engagement leg 53 engages one wing 54a of a cam 54 (FIG.
  • the depressible member 51 is ideal for manufacture using automated (Z-axis) assembly.
  • the electro-magnetic blown-open separation of the primary contacts 28 and 30 occurs simultaneously with the separation of the secondary contacts 22 and 24 in the secondary section 14, to provide current-overload protection for levels in excess of about 3000 amperes.
  • two additive forces develop in opposing directions between each set of contacts, the primary contacts 28 and 30 and the secondary contacts 22 and 24.
  • the first force is the constriction resistance between each set of contacts. This provides a magnetic force that tries to separate the contacts.
  • the second force results from the "U"-shaped current path configuration of the mid terminal 15 in combination with the associated contacts and the primary/secondary blade. This configuration forms a magnetic blowoff loop which creates an additional contact-separation force to separate each set of contacts substantially simultaneously.
  • the primary blade 32 is biased by an extension spring 60 (FIG. 1), which is secured at one end to a retaining member 62 (FIGS. 5a, 5b) of the primary blade 32 and at the other end to a retaining member (not shown in FIG. 1) on the trip lever 42.
  • the trip lever 42 is latched by the magnetic armature 46.
  • the handle 44 is used to rotate the primary blade is to the contacts-closed position.
  • a high level short or fault causes the primary blade 32 to rotate counterclockwise until rotation is stopped by a blade stop 31 (molded as part of the base 10).
  • the blade interface pivots 56a and 56b (FIGS. 4a, 4b ) remain in the fixed position and, at the same time the blade 32 is blowing open, the trip lever 42 is disengaged and rotating counterclockwise.
  • the handle 44 and the blade interface pivots 56a and 56b move only after the trip lever 42 has moved sufficiently enough to take the blade 32 out of its toggle position, which occurs after the blade 32 returns to the contacts-closed position.
  • the collective separating force causes the secondary blade 20 to rotate counterclockwise about a pivot 49 to overcome the force of an extension spring 48 (FIG. 1), causing the extension spring 48 to stretch.
  • the extension spring 48 permits the secondary blade 20 to continue to open as long as the force to open the blade is greater than the extension force of the spring 48.
  • the spring 48 returns the secondary blade 20 to its normally-closed position.
  • the only other component acting upon the secondary blade 20 is an optionally-used kicker 61, which separates the contacts 28 and 30 slightly in response to a "trip" (by trip lever 42) in order to prevent the over-current condition from welding the contacts 22 and 24 together.
  • the kicker 61 is an elongated plastic component residing in a hole through the center of the mid terminal 15, having one end abutting an extension on the trip lever 42, and another end abutting the secondary blade 20 just below the secondary contact 22.
  • the trip lever 42 rotates about a pivot 65 causing the extension to engage the kicker 61 which, in turn, responds by striking the secondary blade 20 and maintaining it an insubstantial distance (about .025 inch) away from its normally-closed position.
  • the spring 48 and the blade 20 are therefore the only substantially active components in the secondary section, and this two-component arrangement requires no traditional current limiting components connected to the blade 20 to absorb arc-energy current resulting from a separation of the contacts 22 and 24. Rather, this current is minimized by the simultaneous separation of the contacts in the primary section.
  • the arc energy developing between the contacts of the secondary section is absorbed by a secondary arc stack (not shown).
  • the arc voltage that is generated as the primary contacts 28 and 30 are separated is guided out of the circuit breaker by an arc-transfer blade 67, a primary arc stack (not shown) and an arc-reflecting slide-fiber element (not shown).
  • the blade 67 is positioned close enough to the sweeping radius of the contact 30 so that it can accommodate lower level fault currents in the circuit breaker, which is important because the secondary blade does not operate in response to lower-level faults.
  • the contact 30 passes next to the closest part of the arc-transfer blade 67, the arc jumps to the surface of the blade 67, which provides the arc with a linear path through the arc stack and prevents the arc from trying to reignite between the contacts 28 and 32.
  • the arc energy is guided out to the load terminal 38 along the arc-transfer blade 67.
  • the arc-transfer blade 67 reduces the stress on the bimetal member 36 by diverting the current therefrom and onto the arc-transfer blade 67.
  • the slide fiber produces gaseous ions which help to drive the arc energy into the arc stack.
  • Calibration of the thermal tripping characteristics is performed by adjusting a calibration screw 72 (FIG. 1) to set the proper position for the bimetal member 36.
  • the load terminal 38 is connected to the bimetal member 36 so that when the calibration screw 72 is turned in a clockwise direction, the calibration screw 72 pulls the middle of the load terminal 38 towards the head of the calibration screw 72.
  • the connection point between the load terminal 38 and the bimetal member 36 offers resistance to the calibration force. Consequently, the load terminal 38 begins to bow in its center section between a pair of bridge points 80 and 81, and both the yoke 50 and the armature 46 move towards the load terminal 38.
  • the latch engagement point for the trip lever 42 is adjusted to the proper calibration.
  • the span of the two bridge points 80 and 81 is increased with respect to prior art structures to provide another significant improvement. It has been discovered for example, that by creating a larger span (no less than about 2.5 inches), the amount of force and stress on the thermoset bakelite material of the enclosure retainment protrusions is decreased dramatically, because the bending of the load terminal 38 by the calibration screw 72 occurs farther away from the point of movement. With less stress on the bridge points 80 and 81 and relatively little stress under the calibration screw 72, the calibration stability of the circuit breaker is increased significantly.
  • the ability to calibrate the circuit breaker is also enhanced by this construction.
  • the widened span between the bridge points 80 and 81 allows less sensitivity to changes in the calibration screw rotation thereby making it easier to calibrate during manufacturing of the circuit breaker.
  • the load terminal 38 and the bimetal member 36 are constructed and arranged to minimize stress in this area of the circuit breaker.
  • the current (It) flows through the junction joining the load terminal 38 and the bimetal member 36, the current (It) turning thereat generates electro-magnetic forces in opposing directions and transverse to the directions of the current (It).
  • the stress these opposing forces can exert on the junction joining the load terminal 17 and the bimetal member 36 can adversely affect the thermal tripping characteristics of the circuit breaker after a short circuit.
  • this problem is overcome by maintaining a substantial distance (about 0.40 inch at center) between the load terminal 38 and the bimetal member 36 and, more importantly, by splitting the current in the load terminal 38 around a hole 39 therein located directly adjacent the junction.
  • This hole 39 significantly reduces the magnetic field to allow higher peak currents through the components with no lost trip-out or recalibration problems after short circuit interruptions.
  • the current splits and goes to the outside of the load terminal 38 it decreases the amount of magnetic flux directly below the bimetal member 36.
  • the current then enters the interface junction and moves into the bimetal member 36. Since the magnetic field is reduced by the hole in the terminal the current flowing back in the bimetal member 36 in the opposite direction results in a magnetic blowoff force that is significantly less in terms of over stressing the load terminal 38 as well as the bimetal member 36.
  • FIG. 6 an alternative to using the conventional line block 17 (equally applicable for the load block 40) to connect to an external panel terminal 84 is shown in the form of a screw retainer assembly, with the associated corner of the enclosure modified as shown to expose the screw 85 for connecting the line terminal 16 to the panel terminal 84.
  • the screw 85 is secured into a screw retainer 86 via a threaded hole therein.
  • the screw retainer 86 can be implemented using a thin flexible metal ribbon having a hole therein shaped to surround the threads of the screw 85 and a shoulder 88 at one end thereof to be retained within the pocket of the enclosure.
  • the screw retainer 86 is shaped such that one side thereof is loosely retained within a pocket formed by the cover and base of the circuit breaker enclosure.
  • the screw 85 is allowed to flex up and be positioned as to easily thread the screw into the panel terminal 84.
  • the screw retainer 86 is allowed to move up into the circuit breaker pocket but is stopped at a point by the termination of the cavity in the back of the pocket. By stopping the retainer at this point and by using the walls of the pocket to retain the shoulder 88, the retainer 86 is loosely secured within the pocket.
  • This construction which is ideal for manufacture using Z-axis automated equipment, allows the ease of attachment of the screw to the line terminal especially when there are multiple circuit breaker poles to simultaneously attach to the panelboard terminals.
  • a double break circuit breaker has been disclosed, embodying the principles of the present invention, which provides high-end performance in terms of interruption with independent operation of primary and secondary blades for a simple design and better resistance stability when used in switching tests.
  • the overall impact is lower product cost at higher performance than any previous circuit breaker design.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
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Claims (18)

  1. Un disjoncteur pour faire passer du courant dans des conditions normales et pour interrompre le courant en réponse à des conditions anormales, comprenant :
    une première section (12) comportant une première paire d'ensembles de contact (28, 30), au moins l'un des ensembles de contact (30) étant prévu et agencé pour interrompre le courant par déplacement à partir d'une position normalement fermée vers une position d'ouverture brutale et blocage avec les ensembles de contact (28, 30) séparés ;
    caractérisé par une seconde section (14) comportant un mécanisme de rappel (48) et une seconde paire d'ensembles de contact (22, 24) qui est prévue en série avec la première paire d'ensembles de contact, au moins l'un des ensembles de contact (22) de la seconde paire d'ensembles de contact (22, 24) étant prévu et agencé pour interrompre le courant par déplacement momentané à partir d'une position normalement fermée en réponse auxdites conditions anormales selon lesquelles une surintensité de courant se traduit par des forces magnétiques agissant simultanément sur lesdites première et seconde paires d'ensembles de contact, ladite seconde paire (22, 24) des ensembles de contact retournant à la position normalement fermée en réponse à une force de rappel exercée par le mécanisme de rappel (48), lesdites première et seconde paires d'ensembles de contact se séparant de façon sensiblement simultanée en réponse auxdites forces électromagnétiques résultant de ladite surintensité de courant passant entre lesdites première et seconde paires d'ensembles de contact ; et
    un boítier (10, 11) comportant des parties internes de retenue prévues et agencées pour retenir les première (28, 30) et seconde (22, 24) paires d'ensembles de contact et le mécanisme de rappel (48).
  2. Un disjoncteur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la première section (12) comprend en outre un mécanisme de déclenchement et ledit au moins un des ensembles de contact (28, 30) se déplace en réponse au mécanisme de déclenchement lors de la détection d'une condition de déclenchement.
  3. Un disjoncteur selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend en outre une plaque conductrice (15) ayant une première partie prévue et agencée en tant que partie de la première paire d'ensembles de contact (28, 30), et ayant une seconde partie qui est prévue et agencée en tant que partie de la seconde paire d'ensembles de contact (22, 24).
  4. Un disjoncteur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le mécanisme de rappel (48) comprend uniquement un ressort couplé audit au moins un des ensembles de contact de la seconde paire (22, 24).
  5. Un disjoncteur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la seconde paire d'ensembles de contact (22, 24) se séparent l'un de l'autre d'une distance notable seulement en réponse à la force d'ouverture brutale.
  6. Un disjoncteur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les première (12) et seconde (14) sections sont pratiquement isolées l'une de l'autre, au moins partiellement, par une partie du boítier de disjoncteur (10, 11).
  7. Un disjoncteur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'il n'y a pas d'éléments d'absorption d'énergie d'arc qui soient connectés électriquement à l'un ou l'autre des ensembles de contact de la seconde paire (22, 24), et en ce que le mécanisme de rappel (48) exerce une force de rappel dans une direction pour maintenir la seconde paire d'ensembles de contact (22, 24) en position pour faire passer le courant.
  8. Un disjoncteur selon la revendication 1 ou 7, caractérisé en ce que le mécanisme de rappel (48) comprend un ressort.
  9. Un disjoncteur selon la revendication 1 ou 7, caractérisé en ce que le mécanisme de rappel (48) est un ressort de traction.
  10. Un disjoncteur selon la revendication 9, caractérisé en ce que la seconde paire d'ensembles de contact (22, 24) comprend un bras de contact mobile, et le ressort de traction (48) est connecté à un élément fixe par une extrémité, et connecté au bras de contact mobile par son autre extrémité.
  11. Un disjoncteur selon la revendication 10, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend en outre un bloc de dérivation d'arc agencé pour absorber l'énergie déchargée en réponse à une interruption du courant dans la seconde section (14).
  12. Un disjoncteur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'une borne fixe conductrice (15) comporte une première extrémité et une seconde extrémité, l'un de la première paire d'ensembles de contact (28) comprend un contact connecté à la borne médiane conductrice (15) près de sa première extrémité et l'autre de la première paire d'ensembles de contact (30) comprend un contact mobile, et un de la seconde paire d'ensembles de contact (24) comprend un contact connecté à la borne conductrice (15) près de sa seconde extrémité et l'autre de la seconde paire d'ensembles de contact (22) comprend un contact mobile qui peut être déplacé à partir d'une position normalement fermée vers une position d'ouverture, et les première (12) et seconde (14) section sont au moins partiellement séparées.
  13. Un disjoncteur selon la revendication 12, caractérisé en ce que la borne médiane conductrice (15) comprend une partie au sein de la première section (12) et une autre partie au sein de la seconde section (14).
  14. Un disjoncteur selon la revendication 12, caractérisé en ce que la première section (12) comprend un mécanisme de déclenchement prévu et agencé pour taire se séparer la première paire d'ensembles de contact (28, 30) en réponse à un niveau de surintensité de courant dépassant un premier seuil.
  15. Un disjoncteur selon la revendication 14, caractérisé en ce que la seconde paire d'ensembles de contact (22, 24) est prévue et agencée pour se séparer en réponse à un niveau de surintensité de courant dépassant un second seuil qui est supérieur au premier seuil.
  16. Un disjoncteur selon la revendication 15, caractérisé en ce que les ensembles de contact respectifs (28, 30), (22, 24) et des première (12) et seconde (14) sections se séparent de façon pratiquement simultanée en réponse à une condition d'interruption brutale de courant dans laquelle le niveau de surintensité de courant dépasse un second seuil.
  17. Un disjoncteur selon la revendication 15, caractérisé en ce que la seconde section (14) comprend un bloc de dérivation d'arc.
  18. Un disjoncteur selon la revendication 15 ou 17, caractérisé en ce que la seconde section (14) comprend un mécanisme de rappel (48) sollicitant les contacts (22, 24) de la seconde paire d'ensembles de contact en direction l'un de l'autre.
EP95907465A 1994-01-13 1995-01-13 Disjoncteur a double mecanisme de rupture Expired - Lifetime EP0688466B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US181289 1994-01-13
US08/181,289 US5680081A (en) 1994-01-13 1994-01-13 Circuit breaker having double break mechanism
PCT/US1995/000623 WO1995019634A2 (fr) 1994-01-13 1995-01-13 Disjoncteur a double mecanisme de rupture

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0688466A1 EP0688466A1 (fr) 1995-12-27
EP0688466B1 true EP0688466B1 (fr) 2000-05-31

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EP95907465A Expired - Lifetime EP0688466B1 (fr) 1994-01-13 1995-01-13 Disjoncteur a double mecanisme de rupture

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US (1) US5680081A (fr)
EP (1) EP0688466B1 (fr)
JP (1) JPH08507653A (fr)
CA (1) CA2156415A1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69517242T2 (fr)
WO (1) WO1995019634A2 (fr)

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US5808249A (en) * 1996-04-02 1998-09-15 Square D Company Circuit breaker with improved impact resistance
US7400477B2 (en) 1998-08-24 2008-07-15 Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. Method of distribution of a circuit interrupting device with reset lockout and reverse wiring protection
US6104273A (en) * 1999-06-09 2000-08-15 General Electric Company Calibration assembly and process for use in a circuit protective device
WO2002035571A1 (fr) * 2000-10-24 2002-05-02 Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. Disjoncteur a boitier moule et contact auxiliaire
JP4310950B2 (ja) * 2001-09-21 2009-08-12 富士電機機器制御株式会社 回路しゃ断器
US7391289B2 (en) * 2004-08-03 2008-06-24 Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. Systems, methods, and device for actuating a circuit breaker
WO2010005987A2 (fr) 2008-07-07 2010-01-14 Leviton Manufacturing Company, Inc Dispositif interrupteur de circuit sur défaut
CN103903921B (zh) * 2012-12-28 2016-08-17 施耐德电器工业公司 过载保护装置和包括该装置的断路器的热磁可调脱扣器

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1995019634A3 (fr) 1995-08-31
DE69517242D1 (de) 2000-07-06
CA2156415A1 (fr) 1995-07-20
MX9503934A (es) 1997-12-31
DE69517242T2 (de) 2001-01-25
JPH08507653A (ja) 1996-08-13
EP0688466A1 (fr) 1995-12-27
US5680081A (en) 1997-10-21
WO1995019634A2 (fr) 1995-07-20

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